---
title: 'Dyslexia in preschool: 4 signs you might see'
description: What does dyslexia look like in preschool and pre-K children? Here are dyslexia signs you might see in 4-year-olds.
slug: dyslexia-in-preschool-4-signs-you-might-see
author: The Understood Team
reviewer: Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD
published: '2019-10-09T17:20:41.887Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6cCFEGo5ALNiLvQLNlPhD3/5ec7fa6610bfb2c80da42f0cc6cb36be/G544351338.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-preschool-4-signs-you-might-see
lang: en
---

# Dyslexia in preschool: 4 signs you might see

Even before kids start reading, you may be able to spot signs of [dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyslexia). That’s because dyslexia can affect language skills that are the building blocks for reading. Here’s what you might see in preschool-age kids.

## 1. Speaking like a younger child

Delayed language development is often one of the first signs of dyslexia.

 Your child may mispronounce a lot of words, like saying “aminal” instead of “animal.”
 At school, your child may not talk as much or may not know as many words as other kids do.

## 2. Calling things by the wrong name

Dyslexia affects the way the brain processes language, including trouble coming up with the right word. 
Your child may hand you a spoon when you ask for a fork. At school, your child may struggle with learning and naming numbers, colors, and the letters of the alphabet.

## 3. Trouble rhyming

Your child may have trouble filling in the rhyming word in nursery rhymes (like “One Two, Buckle My ____”) and may have even more trouble making up new rhymes.
 At school, your child may not recognize rhyming words [](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/phonological-awareness-what-it-is-and-how-it-works)like *dog*, *log*, and *hog*.

## 4. Not following directions

Kids with dyslexia often have [trouble following directions](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/why-trouble-following-directions) that have multiple steps. They may only “hear” the first or last few words. You may ask your child to put on shoes and a jacket, but your child only gets a jacket.
 At school, your child might need to be reminded a lot about classroom rules and routines.

Explore [signs of dyslexia at different ages](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/checklist-signs-of-dyslexia-at-different-ages) and steps to take [if you think your preschooler might have dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-my-child-have-dyslexia).

---

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